Autumn Grange care home subject of police inquiry

The police are trying to establish if any criminal offences were committed

Police are investigating an elderly care home in Nottingham which closed after having its council contract suspended.

Autumn Grange, in Sherwood Rise, lost the contract after Care Quality Commission inspectors raised concerns about fire safety and cleanliness.

Residents were moved to new homes by the council after its owners announced on Saturday it would close on Monday.

Nottinghamshire Police will now speak to former residents and their families.

A force spokesman said: "A police investigation has been launched after concerns were raised about the standard of care provided to residents at Autumn Grange.

"Police will be speaking to former residents and their families and will work closely with partner agencies to establish if any criminal offences have taken place."

'Drastic step'

Ian Curryer, Nottingham City Council's director of adult social services, said: "Due to serious concerns about the standard of care and the wellbeing of residents at the home, we suspended our contract with the private provider and put in a team of our own staff to manage the care of the residents over the weekend.

"However, the city council had to enact emergency procedures to protect residents once the owners told us on Saturday that they were going to close the home on Monday.

"We had no alternative but to take the drastic step of moving all residents over the weekend to alternative placements, wherever possible keeping them within friendship groups and within the locality, with support from NHS colleagues.

"We are now conducting a safeguarding investigation, in conjunction with the police and the Care Quality Commission."